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Driving in France: What are the French ‘villages étapes’?

You have probably seen them signposted at the side of a major road - but what, exactly, are France’s 'villages étapes'?

Driving in France: What are the French 'villages étapes'?
The village of Bergues, one of 76 villages étapes in France. (Photo by DENIS CHARLET / AFP)

It looks a little like the @ sign – but the symbol for a village étape at the side of a major road in France is a strong hint to turn off the main route and head, briefly, into la France profonde.

We recently discussed the various motorway services in France and what you can expect from them. We also mentioned that you’re pretty much a captive consumer if you stop off at one of them, so you do pay a premium for the privilege – and suggested that you might, if you were feeling particularly daring, head into the nearest town in search of fuel and a bite to eat.

Enter France’s villages étapes – or stopover villages. 

You’ll see them advertised at the side of France’s major national highways, or non-toll motorways – which in part explains why they are particularly prolific in the north-western Brittany region which, for historical reasons, has no toll motorways.

The scheme has been running for more than 25 years.

To date, 76 villages in France – from Bergues on the Belgian border to Le Caylar, northwest of Montpellier – are united under the villages étapes banner to offer their services to weary travellers in search of succour. Or, at least, somewhere to refuel your vehicle, body and spirit.

The label of village étape is awarded by the Environment Ministry, and to qualify a place must meet certain criteria.

It must have no more than 5,000 inhabitants, be within five minutes’ drive or five kilometres from the main route, and must be committed to maintaining its ‘village character’.

As well as location, all qualifying villages must:

  • Offer traditional catering with a minimum number of seating
  • Have at least one hotel offering accommodation. This may be supplemented by quality guest rooms and/or a campsite;
  • Support other commercial activities, such as a baker, grocer, tabac, pharmacy, filling station;
  • Provide access to shaded parking spaces and toilets equipped for people with reduced mobility;
  • Provision a reception area for motorhomes, games and picnics;
  • Have a tourist information point.
  • Offer information on local hiking trails and/or historical monuments;
  • Be a pleasant and attractive place to visit.

Once awarded, the label is valid for five years, after which it must be renewed – a process that requires officials to visit the village to ensure it still meets the requirements.

In short, they offer a more traditional French experience than the fast-food chains found at service stations on the autoroute. 

So, next time you see the symbol at the side of the road, try it out. You’ll visit somewhere you’ve probably not been before, and it may become a regular future staging post.

A word of warning though – there’s nothing in rules that state that places must be open on a Sunday. 

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PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

How Paris’s Olympic carpool lanes will work 

Throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games periods, some 185km of lanes on roads around Paris will be reserved for event-related traffic – here’s what you need to know.

How Paris’s Olympic carpool lanes will work 

Between July 15th and September 11th, ‘Olympic lanes’ will be in use along certain stretches of key roads in and around Paris.

These lanes will be reserved for use by accredited vehicles to transport athletes, accredited journalists and official delegations, as well as emergency and security vehicles, cabs, ambulances and public transport.

READ ALSO Apps, reservations and flying taxis: What to know before visiting Paris this summer

The lanes will be activated on July 15, on the following roads:

  • A1 between Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Porte de la Chapelle, until September 11th;
  • A4 between Collégien and Porte de Bercy until August 13th, then from August 30th to September 8th;
  • A12 between Rocquencourt and Montigny le Bretonneux until August 13th, and again from August 27th to September 8th;
  • A13 between Porte Maillot and Rocquencourt until August 13th, then from August 27th to September 8th;
  • Boulevard périphérique, from Porte de Vanves to Porte de Bercy, via the north until August 13th, then from August 22th to September 11th;
  • Boulevard Circulaire (La Défense) until August 13th, then from August 22nd to September 11th;
  • Lanes on certain routes in Paris.

None of these roads will be closed – lanes along these routes that are not reserved for Olympic or Paralympic Games traffic are open to road users as usual.

The lanes in question will be signposted – signs, clearly marked with the words “Paris 2024”, will be in place from July 1st, and will be removed by the end of the day on September 15h. 

READ ALSO How to use Paris public transport during the Olympics

Who can use dedicated Olympic lanes?

Only vehicles and road users that have been properly accredited by the Organising Committee of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games can travel along these lanes during the periods indicated above. 

They include:

  • vehicles of accredited persons;
  • cabs;
  • public transport vehicles;
  • vehicles designed to facilitate the transport of people with reduced mobility;
  • and emergency and security vehicles.

READ ALSO Who needs a QR code to get around Paris during the Olympics

All other vehicles are prohibited from using these lanes throughout the Olympic Games period. Any vehicle circulating on an Olympic lane without having received prior authorisation is liable to a fine of €135 and possible further prosecution.

Road users without Olympic accreditation are advised to be aware of possible travel issues, as more vehicles are filtered into the other lanes. Therefore it would be wise to allow a little extra time for your journey if you are using one of the listed roads during the Games period.

An interactive map, showing routes with Olympic lanes is available here

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